Happy Hanukkah to anyone who is celebrating!
Our usual open thread routine: talk about anything you like — the perfume you’re wearing today, the perfume you almost wore but didn’t, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: image is The grevillea is flowering again [cropped & brightened] by frumbert at flickr; some rights reserved.
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I’m wearing vintage Miss Dior ETD today, an olfactory reminder of my teenage years. I still love it!
My question today regards the thorny topic of shipping perfume. It seems to me that it is getting increasingly difficult here in the USA to ship via the USPS, even first class within the US. Also, I can’t find any good information on standards for mailing perfume. Does anyone have a good link they can post?
I’d also be interested in hearing from those in other countries. What are the standards in your country?
Curious how it is becoming increasingly difficult? (I just mean that it has been illegal for some time now, so not sure what is changing lately)
Andy Tauer just had a post about shipping – evidently it just got a lot harder for him to ship worldwide. He basically can’t do air shipments right now is my understanding. Really unfortunate for him and his business.
Yes, I saw that! Shame. But he is not in the US, of course.
The USPS is utterly ridiculous in the restrictions it has put in place since 9/11, and I say that as someone who worked there for over 32 years. There has never been an incident of perfume or nail polish exploding in transit. It’s all chicken little stupidity and idiots who like to impose draconian rules because the ‘POWER’ makes their figurative little stickers peck out. It’s no wonder their share of the market is falling rapidly. Strangely enough, US Customs accepted and the PO delivered a first class package from Tauer clearly marked ‘Perfume’ to me just this summer. Made it in just 3 days, all the way from Switzerland. Asshats and nincomppops, every one of them.
I seriously need a “like” button.
It’s just so frustrating, sometimes the folks at the PO give you a hard time and other times the perfume packages sail right through. there is no consistency.
no kidding, right? I have a friend who never even has to fill out the CN-22 form to send small bubble mailers out of the country!!! My post office not only makes you fill out the form but has started playing 20 questions to boot! …..I have recently found a new PO branch that is much more laid back….
My small-town PO has always been a pain with the questions.
my newly discovered PO branch is next door to a Starbucks….I’m thinking that once they get a few mocha lattés in them, you can ship anything you darn well please *implied wooohooo!*
I re-tested Tipsy Social Blah Blah by Smell Bent this morning. Bad choice for me. So, I switched to vintage Mitsouko. I don’t like the current formulation but this one I could live with. Still, it’s not what I would wear on a regular basis. As with the current formuation, it has given me a mild, nagging headache… Perhaps it was the fruity cocktail note of TSBB that induced it? Who knows.
Oh, so sorry
Good afternoon folks!
I had a week filled with smelling lots of new perfumes. On Monday my decant of Parfum d’Empire Musc Tonkin arrived. It’s really pretty and complex scent. On Tuesday samples of Lubin Korrigan, Akkad and Galaad came in mail. I tried all of them already and will be reviewing them tomorrow at Chemist in the Bottle.
Finally on Thursday courier brought me a bottle of Histoires de Parfums 1725 Casanova I bought occasionally for a little bit more than half the price. I love weeks that are perfumed and exciting like that!
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jealous of your samples, congrats on your FB.
Thanks Lys! I’m very happy to finally own a bottle of 1725. It was my first niche I fell in love with.
About the samples – some of them turned out to be nice but some turned to be just meh.
Congrats on the 1725 … and at a great price to boot!
I thought about you when I was at Henri Bendel (NYC) last Saturday. They have an entire table on the (crowded) street level of just about the entire line of Histoires de Parfum. I tried Olympia, Music Hall and Ambre 114 and 1725…I liked them all AND the store was having a $s off promotion PLUS a gift with purchase (a 14 mL bottle of any HdP in-stock)…alas, I had my heart set on Portrait of a Lady from Barneys that I decided to not buy the HdP eventhough it would have been a good price with the promotions. In any case, I also tried the Petroleum series – eeek…that is nasty stuff!
So sweet of you to think about my during you sniffathlon! I’m proud of my 1725 and congratulations to you to. FM Portrait of a Lady is a lovely perfume as well. I’m happy you liked those Histoires de Parfums too. The entire line is lovely. From their Edition Rare I didn’t try Petroleum but NST review made me not want to try it. But I tried Rosam and it’s gorgeous. Do try it!
I forgot to say that yesterday I wore Keiko Mecheri Cuir Cordoba while today I’m wearing Grossmith Saffron Rose.
Hi, again. How is the Grossmith?
I would say it’s nothing special. For saffron and rose Safran Troublant, Rosam, Voleur de Roses are much more interesting and heck cheaper.
Good to know. You’ve been getting some hot new samples, huh?
Quality Missala, my befriended niche perfume boutique is sending me samples of their latest aquisitions once in a while – just because they like me.
That’s great of them.
A question: when a person says”Okay” does it mean this “ok” is a bad ok, something like a B-?
Depends on context, but if you’ve asked if someone likes something, or if it is “good”, and the answer is “it’s ok”, then yes, I’d say that’s like a B-.
Thank you so much Robin!
I always read it as an ok with any objection and all the contexts there were objections. I need to pay more attention now to notice a situation where it’s used with no objection. Again, thanks!
Hi Everyone. I am kind of new to the perfume world, but have been busy sampling different fragrances for the last few years. I am curious what anyone thinks of Acqua di Parma Gelsomino Nobile. It sounds like something I might like. I like florals mostly and am looking for something new. Just looking for others opinions. Thanks.
It left me quite cold, it’s probably my least favourite of AdP feminines. I’d say that if you were looking for a dewy jasmine then Piguet Futur is nicer.
I love Gelsomino Nobile, but it is really JASMINE and not much else. Do you like floral bouquets, or just single-flower type notes? The whole Nobile line really features the flower each perfume is named after.
I will tell you what I like and then you may have suggestions for something new. I like many of the Jo Malone, Viva la Juicy, Love Chloe and Paris Balenciaga. I am just looking for something new and that I can get at Nordstroms as I have a gift certificate from there. I don’t care so much if it is a single flower type, but one that is good for the office. In other words – not too strong. Thanks again.
In that case you might like Cartier Baiser Vole – it’s a pretty lily that’s a little green and a little powdery and definitely light enough for an office scent.
Or the other two AdP Nobile scents – Iris Nobile (really an orange blossom with gardenia in the base, EDT has a much lighter base than EDP) and Magnolia Nobile which is a dewy, slightly lemony floral.
I love Nordstrom. You can request spray samples of anything they sell and if they won’t make it for you (I don’t know why they wouldn’t), there are glass jars of the tops and bottoms of small plastic atomizers all over the perfume counter and you can make them yourself. My particular Nordstrom does not sell Jo Malone or Diptyque In-Store but you can go online OR ask the SA to order it for you.
Totally. I’m thinking that Kris, if your Nordstrom does have Diptyque, give Do Son and l’Ombre dans l’eau a try; either might do really nicely.
As for Acqua di Parma, I’ll say that I like Gelsomino and Magnolia Nobile more than most people seem to; it’s true that neither set my hair on fire, but in terms of florals that will offend no one in an office, I think they could definitely be worth a shot.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I appreciate it!
Give Anais Anais a try. Yes, it’s not a new perfume, but Turin and Sanchez have deemed it a four star. While I am not a floral person, this one I will wear, mostly in situations where my preferred Spicy, Woody, Amber-y Orientals might not be appropriate. I always get complements which is always fun.
I’ll agree with some other folks – go and smell! if you can, you’ll find something great. If you haven’t tried it, based on what you like, I might suggest the new one, Florabotanica, by Balenciaga; I really like how it evokes a garden, not just a flower, for me, and if you like Jo Malones I think you would like this one. i’d also recommend giving Elie Saab a sniff – if Florabotanica is a wild garden, Elie Saab is a bouquet in the hair of a VERY expensive woman, and a bouquet made mostly of orange blossom at that.
Report back if you get anything good! If you make friends with the sales person and do buy a bottle they really should give you samples of others (and I very much expect that they have samples of both the ones I mentioned here, as they’re new and the sales associates are going to want to introduce them to everyone.)
More a tone of voice. If there’s a meh or an eh or a shrug then B- for sure…
Robin, you’ve inspired me with your photo choice. The grevillea looked so odd that I googled it, and found that photos of the whole flower don’t look half so odd as this photo, which has been artistically manipulated to look so alien. It inspired me to put on Tauer’s Pentachord White, which to me is an alien take on vanilla.
Oh, good for you — also thought it looked massively odd & it wasn’t a flower I was familiar with, but I did not investigate. But they do come in multicolor, look at this:
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/annan/the_garden/Plant_of_the_Month/grevillea_peaches__and__cream
Thanks for the link. Wow, this variety is much stranger than the ones that popped up when I googled the plant. I think this is the variety in the photo. It looks like something that would grow in a Dr. Seuss garden.
Totally! Wish I could grow it here.
Exactly what I thought: a Dr. Seuss flower.
They are definitely real, and beautiful. I saw them in Australia last year. Don’t know if this link will work but I’ll try:
http://caf.smugmug.com/Travel/Australia/Uluru-Ayers-Rock/20047262_crvT9m#!i=1582387635&k=trKMLbD&lb=1&s=A
http://caf.smugmug.com/Travel/Australia/Uluru-Ayers-Rock/20047262_crvT9m#!i=1582412182&k=6528XPK&lb=1&s=A
Lovely, thanks!
I always praise Robin’s good taste for pictures. I guess there’s a sleepy photographer inside her!
A VERY sleepy & lazy photographer, yes!
LOL! But when she decides to work!…
I’m working December graduation at the (ginormous) university I work at today, doing “crowd control,” so I need to wear something to steel my nerves… still deciding what that’s going to be.
Hope it goes smoothly!
It did! Better than last year, I’d say. I ended up wearing Andy Tauer’s Orange Star. Got quite a few compliments!
Nice, congrats on both counts
Love Orange Star. It’s the DH’s favorite among my Tauers.
I really think it’s important to have a scent in your wardrobe that acts like liquid armor. For me, it’s Fireside Intense. Hope you find something that helps!
I have a few that fall into that category, but today I went with Tauer’s Orange Star. BIG SILLAGE BOMB PROTECTION!
Love Orange Star. You smelled great!
Happy Saturday, all!
I dug out my Jacomo #8 a few days ago, and it’s warm spiciness is really making me happy! Wearing it again, this morning.
Big excitement (maybe?) for the morning is that I’m gonna have a consultation about window treatments in a little bit. I’ve left my painting plastic up in living room, and I have posters on the windows in the bedroom, so I have some kind of privacy in my house. I’ll be very happy to have real shades soon!
Good work, Marjorie Rose – window treatments are a major milestone for settling in!
You are reminding me that I need to try that Jacomo. (Which means I need to file all the samples I have sitting around so that I can tell if I already have it or not.)
Thanks, Noz!
I will definitely be happy when I figure out the windows!
I do really enjoy Jacomo #8. It’s Tea for Two without the smoke, in my opinion. It’s a little cleaner, too. AND it can be found for pretty good prices, which is always welcome.
Sorry to hear that organization is required before you can find out what you think of it!
Eeep! Just got done with the consultation, and now I’m not sure what to do! It’s about $200 a window, and I really need something on every window in the house. . .more money than I was hoping to invest for sure! I think I need to do a little more shopping around before I decide if this is a “good deal” or not.
Makes my perfume habit seem pretty affordable!
Is there a discount curtain shop in your area? That’s what I do. I bought the rods and put them up myself and got my curtains on sale. I have blinds instead of shades. Those came from JC Penney and I installed those myself too.
You know, I’ve kinda got my mind set on the notion of top-down/bottom-up shades, because it would allow me to have some privacy and still let the light in from the top of the windows. I’m not quite ready to give up on this notion quite yet. I’ve seen similar shades at Home Depot and such, so maybe if I install myself it would be worthwhile (assuming I wouldn’t mess it up!).
One room in our house had interior shutters, top and bottom. That might be an option for you if you don’t want to spend that much on the shades.
Marjorie, have you tried Costco? My sister had the window treatments in her entire house changed (I think she had 26 windows or something ridiculous like that and they were all custom sized…even more ridiculous…for a TOWNHOUSE for goodness sake)…Anyway, the shades she got looked liked honeycomb and it is the top down, bottom up type you described. She got all sorts of rebates back AND I believe her electricity bill went down.
The shades are indeed expensive, but well worth it for privacy. Do you need them for all windows? I just have them on the ones facing the alley…
I suspect you are right about them being worth the expense. My house is on a corner lot, and while the windows are slightly elevated, 8 out of the 10 I would like to cover face one road or another. So, yeah, nearly all of them! I did consider just doing those 8–it would save me $400, which would be good!
How do you feel about having a few windows that don’t match? Do you think as long as they are different rooms it would avoid being a visual distraction?
M, I got the same style blinds for the whole place, but only some had the top-down feature — saved me some money that way…
Hi everyone. I got a sample of Kate Walsh Boyfriend from sephora last week and finally got around to trying it out this morning, so that’s what I’m wearing right now. I really dislike it though… I’m debating washing it off soon. Oh well, now I know!
Question: I sampled Hermes eau des merveilles for this first time this week and I absolutely loved it. It’s my favorite thing I’ve smelled in a while. Next time I go to the store I want to try out some of the variations- the elixir des merveilles, parfum des merveilles, eau claire des merveilles, etc. I was wondering if anyone has a favorite from this bunch, or suggestions of other scents that I might like, based off of my recent love of eau des merveilles.
Hope everyone has a lovely Saturday!
I keep my sample of Kate Walsh Boyfriend for reference b/c there’s a blue cheese note in the opening. People are always talking abt blue cheese notes in gardenia, it’s hard for me to picture this kind of note, but Boyfriend makes it easy.
Re: EdM I like the parfum best but even tho I like and appreciate Eau des Merveilles, it’s not a favorite, so other people’s advice may be better.
Hi! Eau des Merveilles is my favorite Hermes fragrance! It’s truly wonderful – and sometimes I think that if all the vintages I love are gone or reformulated beyond recognition – I’l happily wear this one for the rest of my life.
I had them all except eau claire.
And I have to say that I find Parfum to be too strong on patchouli and Elixir is a tad too loud and bright for my tastes (it really is candied orange covered in chocolate) – and although I wear them all from time to time when the mood suggests any particular variation – I find L’ambre des merveilles to be the most beautiful variation on the original:) L’Ambre is very classy, very warm and elegant! It is the most appropriate for the December weather I think and it does feel like a classic french scent! Just try it the next time you are at Hermes!
I love the Eau Claire – beautiful & easy to wear in public.
Eau Claire is the most animalic and dirty of them all. It feels very much realted to both L’Eau and L’Ambre and as Robin has suggested in her review L’Ambre and Eau Claire layer very well. The compliment each other: the warmth of L’Ambre and the bizarre sharp top notes of eau claire. If I hadn’t spent like a gazillion dollars on fragrance already I’d definitely buy eau claire next. But I’ll wait till spring.
Funny, I got samples from Sephora about a week ago – Kate Walsh Boyfriend and Eau de Merv too! I can’t decide whether or not I like the Boyfriend. I like it for the most part, but there are some notes that seem cheap or too spicy. LOVE the Eau de Merv. I also tried L’Ambre de Merv and fell in love!! Bought a small bottle of that one!
Love L’Ambre des Merveilles – it’s the only one since Eau des Merveilles itself that I’ve shelled out money for.
Anyone try Guerlain L’Heure de Nuit yet? Inquiring minds want to know!
I’d love to hear too! I saw someone who had tried it and wrote about it on a Basenotes thread, sorry I don’t have the link handy. But I’d love to hear more impressions.
I just saw your comment on BdJ. If it’s helpful, I think L’Heure de Nuit is L’Zenith (the EDP) from the 100 Ans coffret. I’m sure Victoria would know more specifically.
oh, that’s helpful! thank you.
L’Heure de Nuit has ramped up the heliotrope from the original, It leans more to rose than before and they’ve added a good dose of white musk in the dry down. I think it’s quite good but if you have some vintage L’Heure Bleue to wear, you’re not going to give it up for this. Several perfumistas I know who have some difficulty with L’HB have said they find new L’HdN easier for them to wear.
Daisy! I don’t write in here very often these days, but you sent me a “gift package” some time ago – maybe a year – and I had lost your email address to thank you so much. You weren’t on the weekend polls whenever I checked. So…even though you may not remember me or what you sent – do accept my heartfelt thanks for your kindness!
LOL !! well, then ….a belated; you’re welcome!
I don’t recall what I sent but I hope there was at least something good to sniff!
Many good things – it was an “almond sampler” and I keep them by my bed for bedtime sniffing! Glad to see you’re back. Perhaps I’ll come by more often as well.
Many thanks!
Oh! Long time no see! Hope you’re fine! Big hug!
Hi! just busy….too many projects, spreading myself too thin most of the time and spending way too much time at facebook! I stop in to read, but seldom comment. It’s nice to see familiar names here
Cool you’re at FB. I’d like to meet to you there, but I preffer to respect people’s privacy. I lost your mail since I changed the operational system of my phone and had to delete and install again my mail.
Keep in touch. We miss you here!
I love the new L’Heure de Nuit (thanks Daisy!) I’m not familiar with the original/vintage L’HB other than a few tests here and there of the current formulations. Still need to try the extrait.
The new flanker (LHdN) reminders me a bit of Apree L’Ondee – in the opening 30 minutes, a hit of anise/licorice comes through very much like Apree L’Ondee EDT. It’s not the same, but almost like the love child of L’Heure Bleu and Apree L’Ondee… at least to my nose.
This one made it to my top 5 scents of all time and I’m definately buying a bottle (or 5) as soon as I can.
Wait, top 5 of all time? The new one? High praise!
L’HB x AL’O with a hit (or hint, or both) of anise? See that sounds really good.
That’s it exactly CM– the new L’Heure de Nuit (absolutely ridiculous name, btw) or Blooo as we have been calling it in facebook groups…definitely makes a respectful nod at Apres l’Ondee . The love child of L’HB and Al’O is the perfect descriptor!
I split 5 bee bottles of Blooo and it has been universally well received.
I was in on your split and love it! (psst…I’m the other Charlotte!)
HA! thanks CM….I couldn’t quite remember if this was you or not so I decided to say nothing instead of screaming out “HEY CHARLOTTE, IS THAT YOU?” and look really (extra) stoopid (this early in the day).
Yeah, seems like the name makes little sense especially if it’s the noon-time version in the L’HB coffret.
All these 2012 Guerlain releases. A girl can get overwhelmed!
Hi Daisy, what’s the name of the Facebook page & where can I get a sample/decant of L’HdN?? & for that matter PdE Musc Tonkin…I await your answer oh knowledgeable one
Chrissy –not sure if I can mention facebook pages here…don’t want Robin to holler at me… but sneak over to facebook and look for Fragrance Friends….it’s a large open group.
and shhhh.
Pretty sure I have never hollered at you
Of course you can mention FB.
Thanks for the info. I never think of rose and L’HB together even tho I know all the oldies have rose in them. Sounds intriguing.
(Reply to Daisy)!
Rose is really a minor player –nothing to worry about if you are not a fan of rose.
I like Rose Barbare, but might wince if my L’HB were too rosy.
SOTD is Ambre Narguilé which is my go to casual winter scent.
So I’m curious if there is still such a thing as a really great, creamy sandalwood scent or if they are now a thing of the past due to the whole extinction fiasco? I’ve tried a few (all the usual suspects like Chanel SSS, TF, SL etc) but none seem to quite fit the bill on the creamy front. I hear that Tam Dao used to be great but has been altered significantly. Thoughts?
Have you tried 10 Corso Como? I would say its creamier than Tam Dao but not sure if it’s quite what you’re looking for. It may be worth a sniff though.
Hi Poodle, I tried 10 Corso Como at Barneys and it is wonderful!
I love it. I’m hoping that I get the bath oil from Santa or the EDP.
Thanks! I haven’t tried it because 1- I’ve never seen it in stores and 2-I’ve read the same thing about the sandalwood in it no longer being the same *sigh*
I love 10 Corso Como – it’s my favorite sandalwood. I’m sure I have the current “reformulation” as I got it a couple years ago. It’s very good so you should definately try it. You might also want to try other variations- they make a shower/bath gel and lotion etc.
Thank you! I might shoot them a quick email to find out if there are any stockists nearby.
Try Lumiere Blanche by Olfactive Studio.It’s a very creamy perfume with notes of cardamom,anise,almond milk and sandalwood.It’s very soft and enveloping and the interplay between the cold and warm notes is mesmerizing.I have a bottle and love it in the winter months.Read Octavian’s review on 1000 fragrances for an in depth take.
I second this. Bois de Jasmine has a beautiful review as well.
Hey, thanks for this! I have no experience with the brand at all but I just had a quick look at their website and it seems they do a little discovery set of 4 fragrances for only 6 Euro and free delivery within Europe so I might go for it.
I noticed Victoria’s very positive review too!
The discovery set is a very reasonable deal, in my opinion – I liked Chambre Noire quite a lot, too, and all four are nicely done.
So reasonable as to prove irresistible
I hope it arrives quickly.
Also pleased to see that Chambre Noir is a leather, I love trying different leathers!
Chambre Noire is very nice as well.I would describe it as the innocent sibling of Histories de Parfums 1740
Ah, yes, wish Histoires also did a sample set since so many of them sound really nice. Also wish they didn’t use numbers for names since they all get jumbled in my head and I forget which one is supposed to be which.
I liked all 4 of them…but they lasted about a minute….okay, maybe 30 minutes.
Have you ever tried DSH Arabian Sandalwood? That’s the “creamiest” sandalwood I can think of….maybe because it’s got a bit of a coconut note that softens it, cuts a bit of the tangy woodiness of it ….anyhow, it’s kind of delicious.
Daisy! How the heck are you? Nice to have you back!
Haven’t tried it. Is it that company that has, like, a zillion different perfumes on their website or am I confusing them with someone else? I’ll check it out, thanks!
Hi Abyss!!!
yes, DSH has a LOT of scents on her site —but Dawn is super sweet and if you can’t find it—email her, a lot of times she has stuff around that is not on the site at the time.
That’s good to know! I struggle with that much choice so it’s nice to have a specific recommendation.
I feel overwhelmed every time I visit her site –and sometimes it can be a real trial to find things there even with the search button.
I’m late to comment but Cartier’s L’Heure Promise (I) is a *very* creamy sandalwood. It’s teamed up with iris – it’s very smooth and lasts forever. Not as multifaceted as exotic Mysore sandalwood but definitely fulfills the creamy requirement.
Dang! Wish I’d known earlier so I could have tried it last time I was in London. Thanks, I’ll add it to my To Try When I Get A Chance list.
Odin 01 (used to be called Nomad, now its Sunda, but i think it is still the same scent) i found has a lot of similarities to Tam Dao.
I hope you are all having a lovely Saturday!
Mine has been one of contrasts – just before noon, I got back from a short work-related trip to Qatar, where it was all sunshine, palm trees and cardamom. Now I am back in Tallinn with its piles of snow and a ridiculously idyllic Christmas market on Town Square.
In Doha, I was wearing my Neela Vermeire samples, the only things I own that seemed appropriate. And I was right! All three worked beautifully, I was quite pelased with myself
. Now I have switched to Fahrenheit, which I bought on the way back for my boyfriend. As with all my other gifts to him (Egoiste, Eau Sauvage, Vetiver Extraordinaire, Ambre Sultan), I fully intend to regularly steal that one.
I have a question as well. I am still new to perfume and have so far smelled everything without being much bothered by my pathetic lack of knowledge when it comes to individual notes. I have studied slowly, simply by sniffing and reading reviews/comments. In recent weeks, however, I have gotten increasingly impatient: I feel frustrated when I smell something, but have no reference for it, or read about something, but have no idea what it smells like. So I have decided to act and my initial plan was to order The Perfumer’s Apprentice’s Perfumery Notes Kit, but it seems they don’t ship this one to Europe. Do you have any other recommendations? I would really, really appreciate your advice.
Hi Annicky,
You might want to check out Osmoz (I have no affiliation) which is industry run and located in Europe. They have 5 sets of various notes grouped by family. I think each set contains 12 notes (in little bottles) and it looks like they are about 60 Euros per set.
Try shop.ozmoz.fr
Those were nice. Expensive, but nice. Must be a cheaper way, but don’t know what it is overseas.
Dear Lindaloo, thank you so much! These look perfect. I knew that Osmoz had something like this, but couldn’t locate the sets on the website. If I don’t find a cheaper option, I’ll just go with Osmoz, the quality seems to be good.
Just to clarify – I have no problem with ordering from US, as long as shipping to EU is available.
Wearing CJScents’ Ritual, which says “Winter” to me, probably because of all the clove in it. Notes: Frankincense, Myrrh, Clove, Patch.
I’ve asked Santa for some Neela Vermeire samples – please someone, tell me they’re as good as they sound.
They are (see also my comment above
)! Trayee is my personal favourite, very complex, beautiful and somehow calm: with all those herbs, flowers, spices, woods and incense it could be a mess, but it’s perfect. Mohur and Bombay Bling are also very well done, an intricate, multifaceted rose and a happy mango with hidden depths, respectively. Although reducing them to one note should probably be punishable by law.
Oh, I agree, especially on Trayee! Such a calm scent.
Neela has done a fabulous job on these 3 scents —and she’s got something new coming soon (just put my credit cards on life support right now) —they are really good, but Mohur has become one of my all time favorite roses. Do you still have my email somewhere?
D- I’m pretty sure it’s in my contacts under “Queen Enabler”
…as it should be.
I’ve been wearing all the green scents I love so much, rotating Vert pour Madame, Pandora, and OJ Woman…today I’m wearing traces of all of them, I think. I have a question: can anyone recommend a really wonderful and true fir candle? Something really forest-like? My thanks in advance.
Hi Annunziata! My suggestion comes with a very limited frame of reference as I think I’ve only ever smelled like three such candles and I’ll basically never be unhappy if something smells even sort of like fir (Tree in a Can? bring it on), but I do like l’Occitane’s Rameau d’Hiver very much. If you haven’t smelled it already, it’s worth a shot.
But I’m also very interested to hear if anyone’s got another suggestion; not kidding about loving basically any fir tree smell!
Thank you very much, C.H.! It was kind of you to reply, and I haven’t tried the Occitane candle you mention, so will do that at the first opportunity. I would be happy with a really intense fir tree in a can, too.
Oh in that case, you could try this candle that’s literally called Aunt Sadie’s Tree-in-a-Can! By its name you can already tell it doesn’t have quite the same cachet as l’Occitane, but it’s a much bigger candle for a few dollars less, so if the scent works, then it’s a good deal. Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters both used to stock this, but I am not seeing it on their websites. Aunt Sadie’s website lists a whole bunch of places in my area that have it, though, so maybe in your area too?
So happy to help; I love these too. Hope you find a good one!
Hahaha, Annicky glad it amuses you too! Figured “Tree-in-a-Can” was probably a bit off the beaten path for NST but it’s good to mix things up, I think!
Frasier Fir by Thymes is nice and not very expensive, in the NST candle world at least! It usually goes on sale at Chapters in January as they consider it a Christmas scent…
Thank you, Annie, I will check that out as well.
I’m curious to know if anyone has seen The Thymes’ Frazier Fir pinecone candle in person? I’m thinking about ordering some…
Illume has one. Fir is in the name (maybe Fir Balsam?) It’s a holiday scent to grab one soon
Well, I’m wearing Tauer L’Air du Desert Marocain today. I got a new one in yesterday’s mail from Andy, along with three lovely samples. I’d run out…blasphemy ! Thanks again, Andy ! You’re the BEST !
I love that flower you posted, Robin ! I’d guess it wouldn’t grow in Alaska being it’s an Aussie plant, even with our hot summers (75-100F), but I’d love it. I must do research !
Happy Holidays, everyone !
It won’t grow in PA, that’s for sure, so doubt you have much hope! One of my dreams is a lovely glass greenhouse.
They are lovely, and grow happily where I live in Australia, but that one certainly has been ‘coloured’!
I have to confess: for almost 2 years I was so good – haven’t bought a single bottle of perfume – was just using the bottles I already had – and I was so proud of myself.
In late september something happened – and I went to the store …started sniffing – couldn’t control myself… The result: in mere two months I bought
150 ml chanel n5 eau premiere
93 ml Vol de Nuit edt
50 ml Armani Mania
50 ml Prada Candy
50 ml L’Ambre des Merveilles
75 ml Chanel Cuir de Russie
And I think I’m going to buy a couple of bottles more: Dzing! – I really want this one
and I have an opportunity to buy 30 ml of modern Shalimar extrait for mere 130$ and 30 ml of N19 extrait for 210$ (those are bargains!)
so…. please tell me someone was worse this autumn…
I have only one thing to jsutify this behavior – I quit smoking in september…so maybe thats it? I replaced one addiction with another one? Arrrgh. I definitely smell nicer though.
Ah…and of course I’m wearing Vol de Nuit extrait today :p
I’ve never smoked in my life (so did not have to quit)…but this quarter’s damage poll will be eye popping (for me) once I have all the purchases tallied.
Forgive me, Lady Donatella, for I have sinned…. (to be continued in January).
Congratulations on quitting! If you haven’t bought any bottles for two years then that list really isn’t so bad. If you look at the quarterly polls here most people buy a few bottles every quarter so…
And, might I add (apologies to any smokers) just giving up that habit means you naturally smell MUCH better
Well, at least it means that i can smell my fragrance again!
Plus, I think all the money you’re saving on smoking totally justifies some good perfume indulgences! I don’t know what it costs where you are, but I have friends who are spending like $14/pack. That adds up to a bottle of perfume fast!
Oh wow! I was spending 1500 $ a year on cigarettes! Whaaat?
I say!
Perfume really doesn’t look that bad anymore.
Totally! Perfume is actually So Reasonable!
I have five more and quitting. I read somewhere that it depleats your libido. That’s all I needed. I have zero money and will not dip into savings to buy cancer sticks. I’m getting fit. Starting before the new year so I can feel great for Christmas. It only takes about 3-4 days and that’s the worst. Then ( I’ve quit before ) all my anasomnia will disappear. I can smell the perfume when I spray it on but I use too much. People that get within a 6 ft. radius can smell me. I don’t want all my new 50 ml bottles disappearing. I just bought four ELO’s. Chargone, Archives 69, Divine Enfant, Bendilirious, and PUTAIN des Palaces, that’s more than I though and an 1/8 is gone. In each bottle. So I’m restraining myself to 5 spritzes. One on the arm, one on the chest, one on the neck, one on the hair, and one on the wrist, which are wiped up behind my ears. That’ll do it, huh!?!?!???!?! Wish me luck. I just got Amarathine and Champaca Absolute, and Femme by Rochas. I love all 9-10 of them. Oh and I have the Musc by Mona di Orio, that might be my fav of all time replacing Musc RAVENGER. I’m in love. Wish me luck with quitting my voyage to cancerville!
Huge congrats, quitting is SO hard.
You know, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if you were reaching for perfume to satisfy some of the needs that you used to fill with cigarettes. Scent can be very soothing, distracting, and satisfying!
On a similar vein, I have wondered on more than one occasion if I snack less, eat fewer sweets, etc., than I used to in part because of developing my perfume hobby. I find spritzing a scent on or exploring samples quite as engaging as trying a new recipe. I honestly think it’s been good for my waistline!
Hmmm, wonder if I could substitute scent for food cravings? I may have to get a big chocolate bomb perfume for this purpose.
Of course, if I lose any weight with this strategy, I’ll owe you a big bottle of something, Marjorie Rose!
Ha! Sounds like a win-win to me!
Marjorie, I have the same thought! I def get the sense that perfume may be satisfying whatever part of my brain just wanted a little something soothing or pleasurable or even just diverting, and might have otherwise translated that into a food craving (regardless of whether I was actually hungry). But, Fearsmice, I wanted to add–at the same time, sometimes sweet or foody perfumes will send me off looking for something to munch on, like, “Oh that smells so tasty, I think I’d like a bite!” So, it can cut both ways!
Well…good point! If not perfume I might have been spending on wines, belgian chocolates, oolong teas, silver jewellery etc…
It would be nice to spend money on all of those – to live in harmony. Apparently I don’t and it would be very nice to find out why))
I think it’s very common to replace one addiction/compulsion with another. Perfume seems like one of the healthier choices out there, for sure!
Don’t feel bad – I bought several bottles in September and October – and not small, inexpensive ones! I’m not even rewarding something great like quitting smoking! I did travel, so that’s always an excuse to buy things I couldn’t necessarily get near home…
I love buying perfume while travelling! The new scent gets attached to the place – it’s so nice. For example Osmanthe Yunnan will always be associated with Nice in my memory.
Veronika, perfume is way better for your health, and it’s hard to quit smoking, so I believe a treat was in order. And the perfumes you bought are all classics that I’m sure you’ll enjoy for a long time. Congratulations!
Thank you, Nozknoz! May I ask what is the origin of your nickname? Is it relayed to the word “nose” in some language?
Veronika, when I first wanted to start commenting on NST, I was impatiently wracking my brains for a name and couldn’t think of anything. Then I woke up one morning thinking, “nose knows.”
Maybe this sprang from the idea that, “The nose knows what it likes,” or “The nose knows what is beautiful,” or that our sense of smell is profoundly linked to memory and feeling, or possibly even remembering Jimmy Durante saying, “Da nose knows!”, LOL!
I wanted to use noseknows, but the system didn’t accept it, so I tried nozknoz, which it accepted. So it’s just a nickname that came from the subconscious after sleeping on the problem of finding a screen name.
Congrats on quitting smoking! If you haven’t bought anything for two years then you deserve to go on a bit of a bender. Enjoy! I think the next damage poll is going to bring tears to my eyes. I have not been keeping track like I usually do so I’m afraid to tally it up this time around, and I’m going shopping today which could result in yet another bottle of something.
Thank you , Poodle! As long as you don’t regret what you bought a minute later…) Have to buy a book on “self-control” and delayed gratification.
It seems there has been quite a lot of research into the subject. See this article, for example:
http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/01/self-control.aspx
So maybe we should all have some lemonade before shelling out for a new frag!?
Thank you! I enjoyed the article! Maybe chocolates for me instead of lemonade)
It’s also been a week of disappointments: turns out my favorite Armani fragrance Sensi has been discontinued and is now sold for the price of Amouage Gold (pure perfume!)
Crazy!
Also the first Serge Lutens I ever loved is now exclusive to that Paris store… oh lordy
The forbidden fruits are always the hardest to resist!
Which Lutens?
Santal Blanc
I know – it’s not the most unique one – but it’s the one I liked the best. I often sprayed it on my scarf at the store and happily went out of the store – empty hands – thinking:”It would be very nice to have a bottle of this some day”
…only to realize that it’s not available anymore.
They sell the whole line in the US now.
The prices at Barney’s are pretty outrageous. I was so excited when I heard they had the bells….then I got a look at the prices and it sure made the personal shopper’s prices look a ton better!
btw–no more Santal Blanc at the discounter’s like Fragrance net or parfum 1 ? Now I’m all curious….
eeeeek! you’re right– Santal Blanc is sadly absent
Yes, they’re not cheap! (and hey you, nice to see you)
Hiya Robin! It’s nice to be back…..I didn’t realize how much I missed NST!
Serge Lutens is having free shipping right now…but it’s still better to shmoooze your European friends into a bit of friendly muling or even to contact Suzan to bring some back on one of her many excursions to France. I think Barney’s should just be ashamed at their money grubbing pricing. Disclaimer: I think a lot of perfumers should be ashamed at their money grubbing pricing….but you don’t want to get me started!
LOL not the most unique one, but who cares if it’s awesome.
True. Awesome speaks for itself, eh?
Wow, this makes me happy because I still have a pretty full bottle of Armani Sensi that’s about 9 years old as well as a bottle of one of the flankers that I liked (I can’t remember the name). I’ll have to go back and re-try it. It’s stored somewhere way in the back of my perfume cabinet.
Today’s SOTD will be Atelier Cologne Vanilla Insensee. I am going to a Christmas concert in a 230 year old church AND dinner at an Italian restaurant afterwards. I may sprtiz on a layer of Tauer Dark Passage for a hit of incense and birch tar…we’ll see!
Just got some decants of the Ateliers and I love almost all of them!
kewl
No – of the decants I love ALL of them! When I tested in the shop I found Oolong Infini a little weak, so no decant of that. But ones I took a small risk on (hadn’t smelled in the shop) I love as well – esp Rose Anonyme – its so dark and sultry and wonderful
I couldn’t afford those vats they are sold in over here so I have to say a big thank you to my personal perfume santa -
I agree with you — Oolang Infini is the only one I don’t bother to have.
Did you know the line has introduced 2 new scents? I don’t have them as I had just emptied my pocketbook purchasing a Roja Dove parfum and some Mona di Orios….but ….eventually I’ll get my mitts on them.
No, I thought Rose Anonyme and Vetiver Fatale were the newest! I’m lucky in that I am so far behind on absolutely everything that I don’t really have any impulse to even try keep up:o
mmm, Dark Passage. Maybe I’ll wear that tomorrow…
I’m trying out Liquid Night from A Lab on Fire for the first time today. I dabbed only a little bit, as I’m going to a concert later and I didn’t want to throw people around me into coughing fits. I think we’ll all be okay, though.
Enjoy your concert!
Today I’m wearing Eau de Lierre by Diptyque. Beautiful herbal that I got as part of Chandler Burr’s Open Sky & my favorite to date.
Oh I have a question: is there a perfume that you are ashamed to love?
and why?
Amongst perfumistas, I have no shame, but I *do* find that I am a bit sheepish discussing my perfume hobby with muggles.
You are so right about the muggles, Marjorie Rose! I’ve stopped talking about my hobby/obsession now as it was awful seeing their eyes widen or glaze when I mentioned it. A well meaning friend just couldn’t grasp the concept, and offered to give me all her bottles (of everyday fragrance) when they were empty! She thought that because I searched for discontinued or pre-reformulated favourites on the Bay that I was after the containers, and didn’t understand that it was all about the juice!
I am still thinking about your window treatment dilemma ….. I understand that the current trend is to leave them naked – but then that would mean that passers-by might also see you naked! My temporary solution years ago was just to buy a load of butter muslin and swathe it over some poles. I also made (very cheaply) some roll-up blinds; I got quite good at making them in the end, and if you didn’t look too close, they appeared just as nice as bought ones! Good luck.
I totally understand! I don’t speak about perfume to anyone! That’s why I’m so excited about those pols every week! It’s a nice place to take it off your chest
It really *is* reassuring to have this community, isn’t it?
I am someone who likes to think that I’m handy, but I actually have very little practical experience. So, ideas like making my own have a certain appeal, but it would take a very long time to create something I’d be happy with–because at the end of the day, I’m inexperienced and a bit of a perfectionist, a real combination for crazy-making! Just painting my walls is taking MONTHS!
And you completely pinpoint the problem–don’t want my neighbors to see me wandering around in the nude! A lucky viewer could time it right to watch me go from bed to living room to kitchen to bathroom and back again! That’s a higher level of intimacy than I prefer to share with strangers!
Veronika, for your reading pleasure (lots of “guilty pleasures” noted here):
http://www.nstperfume.com/2010/07/31/lazy-weekend-poll-guilty-pleasures/
and
http://www.nstperfume.com/2012/04/28/lazy-weekend-poll-guilty-pleasures-part-2/
Oh dear! That was a little bit more than I needed to know!
*kidding*
Thank you for the links! Not liking what is praised by people with taste is very hard on your selfesteem. I own Bois des Iles in pure perfume (bought it blind after Robin’s review) and EDT (modern though)… I can’t love it. I hardly like it. This gingerbread accord is way better in Vol de Nuit – and the drydown is a sour disaster on me. It’s too much for me. And it also feels like I’ve smelled it a million times before on some aging schoolteacher… For years I’ve been trying to like it – still no progress. Cuir de Russie is a far better fragrance for me.
As for the cheap & poor taste fragrances (conventionally) – I LOVE Amor Amor by Cacharel. Dominique Ropoin made this one along with some other fragrances I appreciate. But the name, the bottle, the price, the fact that it’s marketed to teenager girls and looks as if it was a celeb frag… Gosh! I’ll never admit to wearing this one in public)
A few, actually. First that comes to mind: I love the much-maligned original Dolce & Gabbana red cap (women’s). It’s huge and loud, but I use just a tiny squirt.
I’m usually ashabed of loving popular fragrances – Light Blue, J’Adore
Loud is not a problem for me.
SOTD is Nu EDP. I’ve been headachey all week, but incense scents always seem to agree with me.
About to head out to look for a specific Christmas gift for the husband. I really really really don’t feel up to it, but at least our Marshalls has good fragrances sometimes.
So sorry, hope you feel better!
Thanks, Robin. I’m feeling a bit better today, but decided not to wear anything more ambitious than Aesop Marrakech.
I was in the vicinity of a Chanel boutique today, so I’m trying 28 La Pausa and Cuir de Russie on a wrist apiece. 28 La Pausa’s grown on me as it’s dried; the woodsy warmth surprised me, very pleasantly, after an opening that’s quieter than I can get particularly excited about. (After reading Victoria’s review at Bois de Jasmin, I’m sharing her wish to smell this in parfum; could be love.) Cuir de Russie is marvelous throughout, no surprise! I’m not entirely sure when I’d wear it (sadly most of my daily life would be punching well above its weight class in something with such richness), but it makes me want to contrive an occasion!
I recently fell in love with Cuir de Russie and i think after an hour of wearing all the smoky leather almost bledns into a soft and elegant iris smell – so it could be worn anywhere: to school, to the office, to lunch. That’s my impression of modern edt.
La Pausa is my next buy at Chanel after I purchase the N19 extrait – all the ones heavy on iris. Chanel’s iris is the best I’ve encountered.
For reasons that shall likely remain a mystery, it really smells like a barn on me, in the very best possible way. Truly, I consider this basically heavenly–I’m still hoping this’ll be the year I finally get a pony for Christmas–and don’t know why I should get so lucky when I do hear that the current EDT wears comparatively lightly on others. I was so surprised to see Angela describe it as “intellectual”. I’m five or six hours in now, and iris is still basically undetectable under the smell of the saddle, the horse that wears it, and not a little bit of the stall he lives in: much more visceral than intellectual, on my skin. Not that it’s overwhelming–it feels like just the right amount of this scent–and so I do think I could wear it during the day… it would just be a slightly dirtier day than is usually my habit
I think you’ll change your mind in a couple of days! I also was shoked the first time I tried it. But I patiently waited for a sample and indulged in it for two or three days:) I really wanted to like it since – as I heard – Mick Jagger is a fan of this scent.
Finally at some point my nose got reconnected to my brain – it truly is an intellectual scent.
That’s the magic of all classics – they never cease to surprise you.
(When I first tried Kelly Caleche I also got nothing but an old sheepskin coat! Can you imagine? Now it’s just roses and daffodils – not a single pony in the sight)
Actually, that’s a good point – the first time I tried CdR, I was a little taken aback. Then, several months later, a Chanel SA insisted that I try it again when I was buying 31 Rue Cambon. She sent me home with a sample and this time it was instant bliss.
Hm hm hm! This is very interesting, thank you both for the added data points on this. One thing that’s curious to me is that it’s wearing so differently on me than either leather or iris usually does; usually iris really jumps out at me, while I have a hard time picking out leather (often just smells sorta richly sweet to me). Feels strange that these are reversed so dramatically from my own experience and from how others describe the scent; I still wonder if skin chemistry isn’t playing some part. (Now at like 8+ hours, 28 La Pausa is down to a whisper but the leather etc. in Cuir de Russie is maybe even louder than ever. I fear I am going to have to wash it off pretty soon; my eyes are beginning to water.) But you’ve piqued my curiosity; it would be interesting to see if my brain processes it differently on a second go.
Meanwhile, though, because I hate to think I might have insulted CdR’s honor, I want to clarify that I meant ‘more visceral than intellectual’ as a good thing! There’s a not-insignificant number of perfumes (some of them, ahem, from this same house!) that strike me as intellectually beautiful but not as especially moving, nor as bearing much relation to living flesh. I love that CdR–at least as it smelled to me today!–does not lack for feeling nor for a certain animal vitality. I almost worry I’ll be disappointed if it’s very different next time!
Heres something weird…I can hardly smell Cuir de Russie. I’m not sure if I am anosmic to something in it, or if my skin swallows it up.
Oh that is interesting! Same on multiple tests? The first time I tried Coco Mlle on skin it absolutely disappeared–but every time since, it’s actually been too loud for me to wear comfortably. I still can’t figure out what happened that first time; I know I didn’t have on body lotion that might swallow it, but I can’t think what else could be the culprit…
I put it down to either my no good nose or my no good skin! I get excited at a shop, try too many things, and then can’t smell the last few frags I try at all. Or, as will Cuir de Russe and Bois de Iles, my nose just doesn’t seem to register it, even if I start with these. Or sometimes I seem to *learn* to smell things. Like Infusion d’ Iris which at first I could barely make out and then, all of a sudden, picked up as this sharp strange smell – then immediately became addicted to it!
Oh lord, me too, I can hardly smell Cuir de Russie and bought a sample of it and Bois des Iles to smell at home, thinking the fug of perfumes in the boutique was the problem. Nup. Eventually I gave away my sample of CdeR although I retain the BdI. It is as you say – my nose just does not register anything. Yours is the first time I have known of this reaction in anyone else. Its’ nice not to be alone!
Ah, I lead a very casual life and have ridiculous taste is perfume (Les Exclusifs, Amouage, Hermèssences) but as far as I’m concerned, life’s too short not to indulge in something like perfume on account of things like propriety
I adore Cuir de Russie, own in in extrait and wear it whenever I get a craving. Last week I put some on after spending half a day cleaning just because I wanted to enjoy something fabulous. I do find it more elegant than dirty, though.
I’m exactly the same way — if you’ve got to run the vacuum, why not waft Amouage at the same time! A little vintage L’Heure Bleue extrait for folding laundry? sure! Treat everyone at the grocery store to a few wafts of Plus Que Jamais? lucky devils….
“lucky devils”, haha! Really, if you think about it, it’s like we are providing a public service – making the world a better smelling place, one grocery store at a time.
Ha, I totally agree with this philosophy! For all of life’s pleasures, really. I’ll happily drink some bubbly even if we’re having pizza for dinner.
And I think you’re right, too, that CdR is elegant. My grandmother could wear it, no problem (kinda perfect for a saucy grand dame type, actually!) It’s really only dirtier than what I typically gravitate toward, rather than dirty for what’s possible in perfume. (For reference, last night I actually found myself weeping over After My Own Heart for how tender it is, so I may need to face facts about just how undirty my taste really runs!) Even as I find CdR very appealing, it’s just one of those scents that feels like a little bit of an effort to wear rather than sitting comfortably on my skin–but I still think there might be some occasion (and accompanying wardrobe choices!) that could help propel me into the right frame of mind for it!
You want to dirty yourself up a little—take a whiff of the newly released Parfums d’Empire Tonkin Musc ….wowza, it’s some dirty stuff!
Mmmmm good idea! Yes I’ve been trying some of the ‘starter’ musks–Clair de musc, Musc ravageur–and thinking I could stand to kick it up a few notches! Not that I didn’t like them–MR especially was such a pleasure–but I had been assuming they’d be really as much as I could handle. Now I’m curious about what something dirtier would be like! May have to seek out a sample of this
…” if my brain processes it differently on a second go.”
That’s exactly what I think!
Just try CdR on its own so that nothing interferes…. Like sweet apples might taste sour after a toffee!)
And I’m sure you’ll be able to see the subtle elegance of fine leather gloves and some smokey iris powder.
Ohh yes on its own–great plan. I’d actually already been thinking I wanted to give 28 La Pausa a shot by itself since it was sometimes hard to smell at all next to Cuir de Russie, but it hadn’t occurred to me to wonder if the reverse could make a difference too.
If it is just/mostly a matter of trying it more than once though–that is, of training one’s nose–what does one do about all the untrained noses who would encounter this if one wore it out in the world? I worry about this more generally too–at least in the instance, even if it changes for me, I’ll know that it has the potential to smell like a barn, so I can make decisions accordingly about when to wear it. But I do worry about things starting to seem well within the socially acceptable range to me, when they actually make civilians gasp for air. I understand and salute the philosophy of wearing perfume just to please oneself, but I can’t be alone in having at least some situations where I do care what it projects to others!
Anyway, that’s perhaps a little off-topic but I do wonder about it!
Ah, yes, I totally get the feeling that some scents can feel like an effort to wear. That’s fair enough, I just didn’t want you miss out on a great scent just because you felt that it needed to be saved for some fancy occasions.
Anyway, I reckon that sampling it a few times under different circumstance/weather conditions/moods/etc is probably the best way to decide if it’s a must-own or not.
I so appreciate that encouragement. I also love how perfume itself encourages us to go ahead and use it while we can. The horror I felt the first time I found a sample had evaporated! So upsetting, but it does free you from a sense of needing to wait for the ever-receding Right Moment. It’s a good life lesson, really.
Hi everyone!
I’ve been reading along for months but thought I’d leave a comment for once
I’m 22, and I’ve never owned a perfume. For the last year I’ve been smelling and smelling at my department store. I want to find something just for me, which has some character and is not your run-of-the-mill perfume, like the DKNY apple perfume most of my friends wear.
Things I re-smell all the time in the store:
- Balenciaga Paris (I like it – is it the violet? but the lasting power is short)
- D&G 9 L’impératrice: it’s so sweet but I keep going back to smell it
- Hermes Un Jardin en Méditerranée: I love love how this smells of nature. Not sure if I love it on me. I want to love it though, I adore the name, the images on the box, and the smell, but it seems too complex or serious for me?
- Hermes Eau de pamplemousse rose: like
I’m so puzzled by all this perfume stuff. I want to find something I like and I keep looking but I find it difficult
Hopefully I can find something just perfect soon. Suggestions? Helpful tips for my search?
Un Jardin en Mediterranee is my favorite summer fragrance – I take this one and only this one with me whenever I go to the sea. also those couple of months in the summer when the heat and humidity are unbearable in the city… that’s when en Mediterranee is perfect for me! So go with this one for warmer weather – it’s definitely worth it!
As for colder months… well, it looks like you have pretty good taste, so my suggestions are based only on my experience:
Hermes – Eau des Merveilles, L’Ambre des Merveilles
Chanel N5 eau Premiere, N5 parfum, N19, Cuir de Russie, Cristalle edt
Dior – Diorella
Guerlain – Vol de nuit parfum (and other classics are worth trying)
a cool modern scent is Prada Candy – great for winter!
Prada Infusion d’Iris EDP is also a modern classic! it’s a gorgeous perfume.
You know…just try them all!
I also have Pamplemousse Rose – and I liked it a few years ago when it came out… I also really liked Hermes – Kelly Caleche (the Hermes Rose note is recognizible here, but it’s complemented by iris and daffodil! a very nice blend)
Rose Ikebana – is another one from Hermes if you feel like spending that much… But my favorite from the Hermessanse line is Osmanthe Yunnan – Ellena was walking through tranquil gardens in the Forbidden City near the Palace of Harmony (or smth like that…) Anyway, smells of peaches and oolong tea)
Seconding Kelly Caleche and Osmanthe Yunnan.
Hi! Can only offer that if you like Balenciaga Paris, try Tom Ford Violet Blonde – the middle section of VB is very similar to Balenciaga while the top notes are more audacious and the drydown is more rich and creamy.
Mm yes good idea–I like Paris but love Violet Blonde, and you’ve just done such a lovely job explaining why!
You sound perfect for the Monday Mail!
http://www.nstperfume.com/the-monday-mail/
Ooh fun! So I’ll pass along some advice I’ve finally followed myself this week, to great success–check out the Ineke sample set. If you don’t know about it already, it’s a great deal ($25 but you get a $25 store credit) and the fragrance are wonderfully different and interesting without being at all difficult to wear. It’s also a super way for those of us for whom full bottles are a pretty big purchase to have some smaller quantities in our possession to test and enjoy while we mull the decision/save our pennies. (Though holding out for a whole year without even one bottle–I think you win some kind of medal for will power!)
Meanwhile, as someone who likewise has some ambivalence about wearing sweet perfume, I say, don’t let that keep you from l’Imperatrice (love the name), if it’s calling to you. For one, there’s always the business of whatever you like best truly being the best choice (not just as a matter of principle but also because you’re the only one here who knows how these things smell on your skin). But also: hey, you’re 22! Seems like a great time to rock something on the sweeter end of things!
(Disclosure, I actually can’t recall how sweet l’Imperatrice was, if at all, but, like I say–since you’ve tried it, you already know better than I whether it suits you!)
Has anything like this every happened to anyone? Honestly, I feel a little nuts. I’ve fallen hard for FM’s Carnal Flower. One day I’ll actually shut up about it but that day is not today. I’ve worn it nonstop since acquiring a full bottle. Well, except one day when I tried to wear something else…and it was an epic fail. Suddenly, everything else seems flat, stale and one dimensional. On the other hand, CF is ALIVE and I love every single facet of it…from top to bottom. And when the base arrives it really feels like a second skin…like a part of my perfumed soul. Has anyone else out there fallen like this for a fragrance or have I fallen down the rabbit hole?
I wore a signature scent for many years… I ADORED it. I love it less now but it was part of my DNA. Lately, I could wear Tauer’s Miriam almost every day, I think. I haven’t been, but I could. I think we have stages in our life like that.
Well…yes! Lots of times!
My first signature scent was Armani Mania wore it for two years exclusively!
Then there was Eau des Merveilles and N5 parfum love affairs.
Today I could easily wear Vol de Nuit almost every day.
The problem is after a while I stop smelling my scent – I’m not able to detect it anymore if I wear a fragrance every day for a long time.
That’s why I prefer to mix it up a bit)
Ha too funny–I am totally chasing that feeling and am afraid it -won’t- happen! Lucky you!
Yes, but I’m easily distracted, so I’ve probably never actually worn something for several days in a row, except on a dare.
I had a wild 3 week fling with vintage L’Heure Bleue earlier this fall….wear what you want–even if it is every day…in a row!
It also occurs to me that you would LOVE Carnal Flower body cream…it is highly scented, a little goes a long way… a little bit of layering of cream and edp….you would be incapacitated by your own amazing sillage.
I have a sample of CF and I just love it. It is a great floral; such interesting and satisfying complexity. I wore Fracas for a number of years, but CF is much, much better IMO.
The fragrance I’ve probably worn most frequently since I got interested in perfume is Mary Greenwell Plum, though I still wouldn’t call it a signature scent… But you’ve fallen for such a beautiful perfume! Carnal Flower is just gorgeous, gorgeous.
Trying out a bunch of samples this weekend. It’s easy since many are from Acqua di Parma and they seem to last about an hour. No must-have so far…
the best of Acqua di Parma = Profumo …..have you tried that one?
Gorgeousness. Wonderful stuff.
Agree! Profumo is the nicest one. Actually it also somehow disappeared from each and every store I’ve been to lately…
I think I saw it online at Neiman’s and they are currently having a giftcard event…..which doesn’t reduce the price any, but in a couple of months they will send you a $50 giftcard to use on anything.
*I do happen to have an enormous bottle if you want me to make you a split….it’s not like I can use up 100ml anytime soon by myself!*
Daisy, thank you! it’s most generous of you! but I’ll try to find the bottle first – maybe it’s just some sort of seasonal thing.
I love Profumo, it’s one of my favourite winter perfumes – so plush! I suspect that one day I’ll bite the bullet and pay that price for a bottle. It really should get more love than it does, it’s usually just me, Haunani and Erin that sing its praises.
Haunani is the one who turned me on to Profumo…..see? even the perfume enablers have enablers!!!
Abyss, do you find similarities between Profumo and Mitsouko? I never had a chance to compare them side by side – but they always remind me of eash other! I’m just wondering wich one to get first? Mitsouko is cheaper though…
I’m not Abyss….but I’ll stick my nose in here anyhow.
There is a similarlity in that they are both these big fruity type chypres but Profumo is very much more user-friendly. Mitsy can be a little intimidating…..
Thank you Daisy! can you say that Mitsouko is sweeter?
And how about 31 Rue cambon? is it close to any of those two?
Again – just tried it in the store – was very tired – but the impression was of something similar…
to my nose Profumo is the sweeter of the two.
I agree with Daisy – they are both fruity chypres (in the original sense of what a chypre is). Mitsouko is a peach chypre while Profumo is a plum chypre. I, too, find Profumo to be sweeter and more friendly. I also think of Mitsouko as a more stark, autumn scent while Profumo is a plush, winter perfume (but that’s probably my subjective impression).
31 RC is another one I adore but, imo, it’s quite different. To my nose, it has that very distinctive aldehydic Chanel ‘fuzziness”, lacks the mossy bitterness and instead has a sweet, nutty core with a ton of really, really good, buttery iris.
Abyss and I might be scent twins…
Chanel buttery iris is the best!
I’m also a huge fan of Profumo and bought a bottle from the discounters a few months ago. It was still pretty expensive. I also found a partial bottle on eBay not too long ago and am trying to use it up before dipping into the new one. Gorgeous stuff!
I love Profumo too and somewhere along the way got a big tub of the body cream. It’s luscious smelling and very nice texture!
It’s good to see Profumo getting well-deserved some love!
WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO ABOUT CLOGGED NOZZLES ON VINTAGE SPRAY BOTTLES? Alcohol? AND WHAT ABOUT DRIPPING NOZZLES? The mess and squander drive me nuts.
It would certainly be worth trying alcohol. Sometimes I’ve not been able to get it to work and ended up cutting the sprayer off with wire cutters (I have small ones that I used to use for bead work), and then decanting it.
I suppose I’d just decant a drippy sprayer, too. I like those Travelo purse sprays fit right over the plastic tube under the nozzle, for example.
Dear Nozknoz, thank you for your answer. If you remove the nozzle, there is about a quarter inch pipe – Where exactly do you cut?
And then the perfume just flows out? I actually don’t understand how spray mechanisms work, if I think of it.
And what would be a safe way to remove the whole sealing on top so to get every little drop left in the bottle?
Where can you buy real well sealing perfumery bottles?
Questions over questions…
Well, cutting the pipe itself doesn’t seem to do anything, but cutting whatever holds it in place probably leads to the interior and then one can just pour the perfume out of that opening. I have small wire cutters from a bead store that look rather like toenail clippers (the ones with two handles that one can squeeze for a scissor like action), and I’ve also used the wire cutter on my needle nose pliers.
I’ve ordered simple travel sprays from The Perfumed Court, Surrender to Chance and LuckyScent. Daisy has more sources with a wider selection. If it’s only the nozzle part that isn’t working, and that tube is OK, one could use the Travelo purse spray. The tube fits into the bottom of the Travelo and then you just pump it up and down to fill the Travelo. Good luck!
try removing the nozzle and soaking it in very hot water for a few minutes. Sometimes they get gummy residue and it can be soaked and rinsed away. Also try cleaning it out with a needle.
Dribbly ones is often a different sort of problem –I’ve had a number of vintage bottles where the little channel in the nozzle is made of plastic and when it gets old ; they crack. About the only thing you can do is either find another nozzle that fits (good luck with that) or just remove the whole spray mechanism and decant it into another bottle.
Dear Daisy,
thank you for your answer.
Same questions to you as to Rozknoz…
arrrgggg! I just wrote a hugely long and detailed response ….clicked post and now it’s gone. sigh……maybe it’s being “moderated” because I mentioned a website….I’ll wait before typing again. *has lazy fingers*
Wandered around downtown Chicago yesterday. First time. Wanted to see The Drake, as my parents honeymooned there 72 years ago this week. It is beautiful! The Chanel boutique on the first floor carries Les Exclusifs! I tried Bois des Isles for the first time and fell in love on the spot! Magical day until I did a face plant on State St.! An ER visit and four stitches later, my sweet boyfriend took me to Joe’s for dinner. Never made it back to Chanel…will have to order online. SOTD…Icy Hot, applied to the outside of wrists, elbows and knees. OUCH!
Glad you’re OK and being well taken care of! You’ll always have a story to remember with Bois des Iles!
Thanks for signing off on this, Nosknoz. I will definitely place an order! Perhaps I should check for old scars that never received a tribute. Not the emotional ones, of course, they haven’t made enough of the stuff!
Juicejones: checking for scars in need of perfume therapy = AWESOME enabling strategy!
Yep. I’ll have to use that one myself!
Crikey, glad you are okay. Sounds like some Bois des Îles is in order, for purely medicinal purposes, of course
Abyss, It is so beautiful, I would have them put in a PICC line! Topical application would not suffice. Wish they sold them in AZ. Vegas is the closest for me. Although, if I were brave enough to buy blind I suppose Chanel is a safe bet.
Wow – glad you’re ok!
Just went to Chicago in October. The first stop was Chanel – picked up Cuir de Russie, 31 Rue Cambon, and Bois des Iles. So incredibly happy with my choices – and so is the DH. The Cuir de Russie is “for him,” ha ha!
Did you make it to Barney’s fragrance dept?? It’s amazing! I spent 2 hours there and finally chose X-Ray’s Laquered Rose. They had just gotten it in and literally unpacked it that day. It’s a rose-oud deal – gorgeous!
Ah, the trifecta! Aren’t you a clever girl! I wanted to try more than one, but got fixated on the beauty of BdI and stumbled out of there (literally), forgetting my game plan.
We have a Barney’s here, so I will check out your X-ray next time I visit. I was able to try two of the new Dior Privée at Saks; Patch, and Ambree Nuit. Nice, and they have samples of some of the raw ingredients from each frag to savor. Wanted to get back there, but alas…
Ouch! At least you didn’t really break anything. Not a fun way to end your day though. I kinda like that fresh minty scent of Icy Hot sometimes.
Oh dear, so sorry!
Ah, scary! Glad you are ok!
Thanks for the well wishes. I left Chicago w/ much unsniffed business. Just another good reason to go back! This time I will look where I am going, or perhaps glue gun a fascinator to a bike helmet and try to pass it off as a fancy hat.
Oh, no! I’m glad you’re okay, though, and I hope you get your Bois des Iles. While I never did a face-plant, I certainly did a few butt-plants on slippery Chicago sidewalks (especially on the Michigan Avenue bridge over the river).
Mitsouko EDP on both wrists and CDG Avignon on back of right hand.
How would you compare Mitsouko EDP to edt and Parfum? I’ve read at Ovtavians blog that modern EDP is the closest thing to real Mitsouko. He’s not fond of parfum – and to be honest I myself found parfum to be way too sweet!
I got Luckyscent samples today, so I’m wearing Parfum d’Empire Musc Tonkin on one hand, and ELdO Rossy de Palma on the other. Love it. I’m leaning over my laptop and sometimes getting whiffs from the drydowns of both of them at the same time and it’s great. Musc Tonkin strikes me as something that wouldn’t have been out of place in the 1930s or ’40s, like a modern day reconstitution of a civety vintage perfume. It’s pretty sexy stuff, but I have no idea when I’d have an occasion to wear it. I’d probably just wear it around the house and revel in how awesome I smell. I’m also really loving the Rossy de Palma. Now this is my kind of rose. The price isn’t bad either so I might be considering this after my sample runs out.
I bought last night Aquolonia Pink Sugar Sensual. I loved it more than the original Pink Sugar (which I find very “synthetic”) and enjoy wearing the flanker today. I also read the review of Robin on PS Sensual and it is straightforward and pretty accurate. Could not agree more. Thanks!
Hello Everyone! All this “Nuit” discussion has inspired me to wear the only Nuit I own – SL Rose de Nuit. Also, since the cats will not leave me alone, there is a bit of Eau de Kitty thrown in.
SOTD – Noir Epices. I’m loving it. Perfect for this freezing cold day in London city. I’d love to read of review of it on this blog one day!
Oh god, I adore that scent. I have had one of the small travel sprays of it. Might be good to spring for a larger one. I think Saks carries it now…
Very happily wearing Aoud Oeillet D’Inde– I hadn’t smelled it in years and it’s still fabulous on me. I am thrilled.
I was idly wondering how many people on here have some sort of synesthesia–I somehimes hear muscles while I’m working on them but I seem to be starting to occasioally smell something and want to describe it as a texture
I get a lot of texture out of scent but don’t know that it feels synesthetic to me, in the way that some people genuinely receive one sensation with another (like seeing certain letters in color when they read). I feel like the sense of smell has a textural component, the way you can have a haptic/touch impression from looking at something rough. ???
On the other had, two days ago the woody scent of Lupin Dandy combined with the taste of sugar cookies and I felt like I was eating sand. Made me angry!
I am late to the party but wanted to chime in. I have been wearing L’Artisan Seville de l’aube recently. I only have it in some small sample vials but I keep putting it on almost every day. Something about it. At first I thought I just didn’t like it. But I’ve found that at times during the day I feel myself sort of surrounded with a golden aura and I think “What is that?” and realize it’s the fragrance. I didn’t succumb to the initial love for it, but now I feel maybe a FB is in my future.
Apart from that, I’ve ordered a bunch of new samples of Ramon Monegal fragrances and can’t wait to try some more. So far I have found several I like and one I love–Mon Patchouly–and bought it.
I felt like that with Santal Blush – a warm aura coming from an undefined location and surrounding me. Still have to try the Seville.
Late to the party too! Just wanted to say thanks for the Channuka wishes Robin. Can anybody help on how to get the a broken piece of glass stopper out of the bottle…I wiggled a lid of a gorgeous nuit de noel too hard and broke it in the middle…aaaaaarg I can get some drops out with the piece in and keep it closed by putting the top piece on, but I am worried it may not be tight enough Thanks in advance
Oh dear, so sorry. Hate to say it, but I think you ought to put it into another bottle. Hope someone else will have better advice.